A day after the first kiss
Stefani rolled to her bed, screamed on her pillow, got up, frowned while panting, then rolled over again.
"Young Miss, I brought you hot milk. You should be able to sleep after drinking this. You still have school tomorrow."
"Big sister, what does it mean when someone kisses you?" Stefani asked, now sitting at the edge of her bed and expectantly looking at Rose.
Rose paused, taken aback by Stefani's sudden question. She then placed the tray at the bedside table and moved to sit next to Stefani who looked nowhere near getting a sleep.
"Well, it depends," Rose said, observing Stefani's reaction. By the way, Jonathan took Stefani back home a while ago and Stefani's death glare was thrown at Jonathan, and the way Jonathan stared at Stefani's back when he entered the mansion, she could already guess what had happened.
"What do you mean?" Stefani looked at her, now all too serious even with messy hair and wrinkled sleepi
Jonathan sighed, observing his little fiance from a distance."I-It moved!" Stefani's face looked horrified again. She was wearing a farmer's set of clothes, a hat, and a pair of black farmer boots and gloves."It's an earthworm," one of the kids, Emerald, age six, told her.Stefani looked scared as she distanced herself from the creature, "W-What is that thing doing there?!""It's for fertilizer. It makes the soil healthy for plantations. Right, Big sis?" Emerald said as she asked her older sister beside her.How is that even possible? Aren't earthworms the ones that eat the growing plants and ruin their health? Stefani thought to herself. However, she was wrong about it since the ones she was thinking about were the bugs and pests that destroyed the plants. They were, in no way, resembling the helpful earthworms she saw today. For Stefani, as long as the creatures look small but are ready to attack her, she would consider them as deadly monsters.
Inside the Hill residence, Stefani was still trying hard not to cry. Emerald and her other siblings ages 3, 5, and 8 were trying to calm the shaking youth. Stefani, upon being comforted by little children, couldn't help but feel more emotional. She started bawling her eyes out."I don't care about him anymore!" Stefani cried out, "why... -hic- why did he have to treat me like that? I'm not useless! I'm not handicapped!" She cried even louder. What upset her the most wasn’t the fact that she couldn’t do the tasks given to her well but it was that Jonathan was treating her as if she couldn’t do anything right at all.Emerald shook her head, her little hands caressing Stefani's back. "Calm down, Big Sister. Maybe big brother Jonathan is just trying to help you since you're younger than him..."Stefani bawled her fists, her face contorted in anger. "I'm not a kid anymore!!" Then she started crying loudly again. "I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!!
The wind blew and a four-leaf clover fell under the slide in the playground.Sounds of the children laughing, giggling while playing echoed around.Stefani pulled her knees closer to her chest, head duck down, not letting anyone see her crying face."Stefani!"That voice again. It was trying to pull her out of the dark abyss.She sniffed before she wiped her cheek and spoke with a crying voice."You found me, Jonathan."She heard him sigh.When everyone else couldn't find her, he always did.He has always been an exception.Always."It's okay, Stefani. I'm here. Don't be sad. I'm here.""Stefani! Stefani!"Stefani opened her eyes, squinted as they were welcomed by the strong light above. Ruby was beside her, frowning in worry or anger, Stefani couldn't distinguish. She look
Twelve years ago"Stefani! Stefani!"Jonathan just arrived at the Hernandez Mansion after he and Jane went to their parents' grave and gave their mother her favorite flower when he noticed the butlers and maids all wore anxious expressions on their faces. He didn't waste time as he ran towards Mr. Hernandez."Quick!! Find my daughter!" Mr. Hernandez looked miserable and full of anxiety as he shouted at his bodyguards."What happened, Mr. Hernandez?" Jonathan asked, feeling anxious himself."Ah, Jonathan! Jonathan, please help me. Stefani, my Stefani is missing. What am I going to do? It's her mom's birthday today and we said we're going to visit her grave. When I went to check her bedroom, she's not there anymore... Jonathan-ah, my daughter... my daughter is..."Jonathan decided to remain calm and think. They wouldn't be able to find Stefani if all of them were going to panic. Just then, he remembered Stefani's story about her mothe
It was already dinner time when Stefani and Jonathan arrived at the Hill Residence. Jonathan decided not to intrude on Stefani's space and just watched her stare at the clover leaves a while ago. When Stefani stood up, without a trace of any single tear, Jonathan thought maybe Stefani was just holding it in. Then she heard her shout, all of a sudden."Mom! I don't know where you are but I'm here to say I'm doing fine! Don't worry about me and tell the clover fairy to stay healthy and bring more luck to the people in this place, okay? I miss you, ma!"Then, as if she was waking up from a long deep sleep, he watched as Stefani smiled. Under the bright sky, an angel who tasted the bitterness of this world, continued to move forward, spreading her wings as she kept her loneliness away. She had always been like that - always moving forward no matter what difficulties life may give her.That was when Jonathan realized - this Stefani was no longer the Stefani before. T
Flashback"Daddy..""Hmmm?""I just wish for one thing. I won't be wishing any other wishes anymore. Just grant me this wish, Daddy.""Hmm, what is it, my precious? Daddy will give anything - everything - for you. Tell Daddy what your wish is."Stefani had already closed her eyes and Mr. Hernandez knew then his only precious child had finally calmed down and was now falling asleep. Mr. Hernandez couldn't help but smile at his precious, extremely adorable daughter."Let... me... marry Jonathan in the future.."Mr. Hernandez's smile slowly disappeared. Curiosity filled him but then suddenly felt this oddly good feeling inside him.Stefani loves Jonathan? How come he didn't see that earlier? He wouldn't send Jonathan abroad if he knew this. Stefani's happiness is Mr. Hernandez's happiness too.Mr. Hernandez thought about it then smiled. He
With every beat of her heart, Stefani became more confused. The music from the outside became melodic and low, slowly bringing back memories from the past Stefani once kept in a box and never opened it since, afraid of the heartache she knew she would not be able to take.As the music continued to make loud beats outside, Stefani's heart made louder music and all the fears she had inside came back. Though just a simple glance over the person beside her, all her fears seemed to leave.That night, Stefani continued to listen to her own beats, the kinds of which that were in sync to the heart of the man lying beside her saying he could not be touched for he was already engaged.The kind of emotion Stefani forgot sheーtheyーalready had from a long time ago.The kind of emotion both knew they, Jonathan and Stefani, treasured once upon a time.The next morning."Will you really be fine? What if I ask my husband to go with you and Jonathan?" Mr
For the past week since Jonathan and Stefani finally returned home, Stefani's friends had stuck to her side like rice cakes, almost never leaving her alone even a minute. To this point, Stefani was starting to feel irritated by their clinginess. Adding to that, she hasn't seen Jonathan at all after they reached the city. Where the hell did that monkey go? For some reason, Stefani felt uneasy not seeing Jonathan around."Hey, Stef! I'm saying something!!" Bridget shouted, pouting at Stefani while bouncing at Stefani's bed. Dianne, Christina, and Ivy were also in her bedroom, doing whatever they wanted in Stefani's belongings.At this time, Stefani was holding her phone, pacing back and forth to her door, contemplating whether to call Jonathan or not. What if he was in the middle of having a rest? Or was he at work? Wait, that fast?! But considering the type of man Jonathan Gonzalez was, that wouldn't be impossible either! Stefani was biting her nails, completely uncomfo